Artificial denture



June 3, 1952 Nl KAPLAN 2,598,998

ARTIFICIAL DENTURE Filed Sept. 4, 1951 atented June 3, 1952 UNITED f STATES APAl'l-ENT `,O-lfvl'ilCE 2,598,998 H M i lAIt'IIFICIllIlDENTURJfI Nathan Kaplaig'Auahta'Ga. Application September 4, 1951, Serial No. 244,870

3 Claims. (Cl. 32-4) This invention relates to an artificial denture comprising upper and lower plates, and has for its primary object to properly align the plates comprising the denture.

Another object is to assure absolutely perfect alignment of the upper and lower dentures and to prevent accidental movement of the dentures relative to one another.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this invention which embodies among its features a loop carried by the lower plate adjacent each side thereof and a guide tooth carried by the upper plate adjacent each side thereof for entrance into the loop on the adjacent side of the lower plate to prevent lateral shifting of the plates relative to one another.

Other features include a notch in each loop opening through the side thereof remote from the lowel` plate and a guide pin carried by each guide tooth and projecting laterally therefrom for entrance into a notch to prevent longitudinal shifting of the plates relative to one another.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a lower denture embodying the features of this invention,

Fig. 2 is a side view of the upper and lower dentures embodying the features of this invention,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a lower denture embodying additional features of this invention, and

'Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the additional features embodied therein.

Referring to the drawings in detail a lower denture I of substantially U-shaped formation has set therein conventional artificial teeth I2 and carried by the denture I0 adjacent opposite sides thereof are pairs of spaced prongs I4 which extend in substantially parallel relation to the teethl I2 and carry at their ends remote from the denture loops I6. In the preferred form of the invention the prongs I4 and loops I6 are bent to shape from a suitable wire, preferably comprising a gold alloy and the prongs I4 are cemented or otherwise rigidly secured in the denture I0.

The upper plate I8 of the denture is conventionally provided with artificial teeth 20 and carried by the upper plate I8 in parallel relation to the teeth 20 and on opposite sides of the plate are guide teeth 22 which as illustrated in Fig. 2 when the plates I0 and I8 of the complete denture are assembled, the guide teeth 22 will enter the loops I6 to hold the parts in proper alignment.

In order to avoid longitudinal shifting of the plates I0 and I8 relative to one another I form in each loop 24 which corresponds to the loop I6 previously described a notch 26, and in each guide tooth 28 which corresponds to the guide tooth 22 in the upper plate I secure a laterally extending guide pin 36 which is adapted to seat in the notch 26 of an adjacent loop 24 as will be readily understood upon reference to Fig. 4.

In use with dentures comprising upper and lower plates wherein the lower plates are equipped with the loops I6 or 24 as above described and with the upper plates equipped with guide teeth 22 and preferably with the pins 3U, it will be evident that upon placing the upper plate in position on the lower plate, the guide teeth 22 will enter their respective loops I6 and prevent lateral shifting of the plates relative to one another. Likewise where the notches 26 are provided in the loops and the guide pins 36 are provided and extend laterally from the guide teeth it will be evident that longitudinal shifting of the assembled plates will be prevented. As a consequence the plates of a denture may be held in proper position relative to one another and no slippage or wobbling can take place.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of the construction cornbination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a denture which includes an upper plate and a lower plate, means for aligning the upper and lower plates comprising a loop carried by the lower plate adjacent each side thereof, and a guide tooth carried by the upper plate adjacent each side thereof for entrance into the loop on the adjacent side of the lower plate, each loop having a notch therein opening through the top thereof and a guide pin carried by each guide tooth and projecting laterally therefrom for en trance into the notch in a loop.

2. In a denture which includes an upper plate and a lower plate, means for aligning the upper and lower plates comprising a pair of spaced prongs carried by the lower plate adjacent opposite sides thereof, said prongs extending toward the upper plate, a loop carried by each pair of prongs at the ends thereof remote from the lower plate, said loops lying in parallel spaced relation to the lower plate, and guide teeth carried by the upper plate adjacent opposite sides thereof for entrance into the loops` to hold the upper and lower plates in alignment.

3. In a denture which includes an upper plate and a lower plate, means for aligning the upper and lower plates comprising a pair of spaced prongs carried by the lower plate adjacent opposite sides thereof, said prongs extending toward the upper plate, a loop carried by each pair of prongs at the ends thereof remote from the lower'plate, said loops lying in parallel spaced relation to the lower platefguide teeth carried by the upper plate adjacent opposite sides thereof for entrance into the loops to hold the upper and lower plates in alignment, said loopshaving notches therein which open through the sides 4 thereof remote from the lower plate, and said guide teeth having pins extending laterally therefrom for entrance into the notches whereby longitudinal shifting of the plates will be prevented.

NATHAN KAPLAN.

REFERENCES CITED FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Nov. 12, 1914 Number 

